The Sprout
Lighting the beacon for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 168 June 2022
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Te l: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
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Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
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a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
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It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk
The Sprout
Issue 168, June 2022
Contents
3 Marking the Jubilee
5 Brownies at Fifty
7 Medical Practice - Latest
11 Your District Councillors
14 Botley School Gets Chicks /
Botley in Bloom
15 Great Botley Bring and Take
17 Botley Arts Tereza Barnard
19 Meet Grahame Godby
21 Pillow Talk
23 Hedgehog Highway
25 Osney Supercharge
27 Planning Applications
29 Pop-up Cafés
31 Talking Therapies
33 Scouts Go Canoeing
37 Randoms
39 Local Organizations
From the Editor
The Jubilee celebrations are coming closer by the time you read this,
they will be just days away. The lighting of the beacon, with all the
attendant shenanigans, is scheduled for the evening of 2nd June (p3) and
on page 4 you will find details of the Jubilee Festival on Saturday 4th at
the new shopping precinct. Our cover shows the beacon being lit in 2012
at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Other things to look forward to include
the Pop-up cafés at the Pavilion (p29), Sustainable Botley’s ambitious Big
Bring and Take on 9th July (p15), and the Arts exhibition at St P&P is
worth a visit (p17). The Patient Participation Group is continuing to hold
the Botley Medical Practice to account (p7), the Brownies have reached
50 (p5), the XVth Scouts have been off on adventures (p33) and the 4th
Scouts are holding an exciting Community Fun Day at the Rugby Club on
18th June (p38). Animals get a look-in, with chicks at Botley School (p14),
hedgehogs on page 23, and on page 19 we meet Grahame Godby, of the
Four Paws Dog Training Club. There’s still time to enter your front garden
for Botley in Bloom but only just: applications close on June 6th (p14).
All this and more in this month’s Sprout. Happy reading!
Ag MacKeith
JUBILEE UPDATE
What is there still to say?
The Jubilee Beacon Party on 2nd June will go ahead on the
Louie Memorial Playing Fields, whatever the weather. Let’s
just hope it’s fine. The beer tent, MUGA disco and barbecue
are all arranged, starting at 7pm. A Piper will lead us across
the field at 9.15, and play us up the hill. The candle lanterns
will be there for anyone who wants one, but at your own risk,
obviously. The path is narrow and rutted in places, and
marshals with torches will show you the way. Wear boots if
it’s rained. A choir will greet us at the top. The beacon will be
lit at 9.45 prompt, our part in the national beacon chain.
Hot chocolate at the pavilion when we come back down.
Here’s the recipe for the Jubilee Tart for those who want to make it
for their picnics:
You will need a 20cm flan tin, and some shortcrust pastry.
Assemble these for the filling:
100g smoked salmon (cd be trimmings)for Scotland
50g leek, thinly sliced for Wales
100g new potatoesfor N Ireland
70g cheddar cheese, grated for England.
! 200ml single cream !2 large eggs, beaten ! tbs chopped parsley
Then:
1. Bake blind the pastry case.
2. Boil the potatoes.
3. Soften the leeks for 10 mins in butter.
4. Mix cream, beaten eggs and chopped parsley together.
5. Fill pastry case in this order: salmon, leeks, 50gms grated
cheese. Top with a layer of thinly sliced potatoes.
6. Pour the egg and cream mixture gently over the top and sprinkle
on the remaining cheese.
7. Bake at 180° C (Gas Mark 4) for 35 mins till set and golden.
Add a cocktail stick with a tiny flag on top, and Bob’s your uncle!
Saturday 4th June
The ‘West Way Festival’ is back
On the Saturday of the Jubilee weekend we
will have the first open-air party in the new
West Way shopping centre with music, games,
competitions and entertainment for everyone.
It will run from 2 to 6pm.
There will be a stage on Church Way and more events in the Seacourt
Hall, including a local history exhibition and Jubilee cake competition as
well as tea and cakes to buy, with proceeds going to the Pavilion fund.
Local bands the ‘Botley Crüe’ and ‘Barricane’ will be among the
performers on the outside stage and we will have singers and martial
arts demonstrations from local groups. The Seacourt Bridge will be
running an open-air bar.
Local organisations will have stalls and games, there will be a shop
window competition for children and as we go to press we expect to
have a Fire Engine and some classic motorbikes on display. There will
be as much bunting as we can string up around the centre and we are
encouraging the residents to take part too with a balcony decorating
competition.
Please come along to this community celebration. After two years of
restrictions it’s a great opportunity to kick off the summer with a national
and local celebration with your friends, family and neighbours.
Keep an eye out for posters and see our Facebook page for details of
how to enter the baking and other competitions: https://www.
faceboo k .co m /B o tley Ju b ilee 20 22
Kids’ Treasure Hunt
Ten questions about the Queen will be posted in shop windows around
the West Way Centre. Please collect all 10 answers and hand in your
list, along with your name and phone number at the Missing Bean
café by 3rd June. The winner will be announced on 4 June at 4 pm at
the Jubilee celebrations. The sweet prize was donated by McColl’s.
Photo Exhibition
Send your photos, relating to family history, royalty, or earlier jubilee
celebrations to Martin Harris at martin.harris321@gmail.com, as jpgs if
possible. But do it very soon if you haven’t done it already, or you’ll miss
the boat!
2nd Botley Brownies Reach Fifty!!
Moving with the times from a Brownie “Pack” into a Brownie “Unit” we
are very pleased to report that we made it to our 50th birthday! To
celebrate our half century we held a 50th Birthday Party Tea with a
Campfire at Beanwood on the afternoon of Saturday, 30th April, in bril-
liant sunshine. The glorious bluebells were in great abundance in the
woodland and birds sang their hearts out as we sat outside the old
Beanwood Cottage un-
der our two gazebos eat-
ing a yummy celebration
afternoon buffet tea in-
cluding a bespoke Cele-
bration 50th Birthday
Cake.
Party games were played
under the yards and
yards of bunting put up
especially for the event
and wide games were
played in the acres of
open space behind the
cottage. Girlguiding cele-
bration party sun hats
were worn alongside
specially made “Happy
50th Birthday” pin badg-
es that the Brownies had
coloured in at the previ-
ous meeting. (Snowy
Owl is now a whizz on
the hefty County badge
machine at turning them into little works of art).The joyful afternoon fin-
ished with a traditional Girlguiding Campfire and singsong followed by
the toasting of marshmallows.
So, with fingers crossed, here’s to the next fifty years. We would also
like to reiterate a huge, huge “Girlguiding Thank-You” to all the brilliant
2nd Botley Brownie Leaders, Brownies, Parents and Supporters past
and present who have made the last fifty years possible. Everyone
has had so much fun along the way and for that we THANK-YOU!
Lucy Howes
Botley and Kennington Patients Participation Group
Spring COVID-19 Booster
This is the current position regarding spring booster vaccines. The NHS
offers the booster to all those who are 75 or over, those who live in a
care home for older people and anyone of 12 and over who has a
weakened immune system. You will be contacted by the NHS (not your
GP) when you are due a spring booster, usually around six months after
your last dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
If you have a severely weakened immune system you need to get your
3rd dose before you get a booster. You can ring 119 free of charge to
book an appointment (make sure you have your NHS number to hand).
You may learn about the booster via a text from ‘NHSVaccine’ inviting
you to book an appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy,
sent to the phone number your GP surgery has listed for you. You may
also get a letter a few days after.
(N.B. The NHS will never ask you for * bank account or card details *
PIN or bank passport * copies of personal documents to prove your
identity, such as passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips * If you think
you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, report it to Action Fraud
on 0300 123 2040.)
The PPG have organised 22 volunteer car drivers for those patients
who have transport problems, to take them to Kassam Stadium for their
boosters. If you require a lift please telephone Sylvia, a volunteer and
member of our PPG on 07970 626443.
Making a complaint
If you need to make a complaint to the Botley Medical Centre, then you
should do so by old-fashioned letter and keep a hard copy of it. That will
be better than an email, which we have been told may not get read for
some days in some cases.
The letter should be addressed to the Practice Manager.
If you have not had a reply after 4872 hours, or you are not satisfied
with the response you get, then escalate your complaint to the Care
Quality Commission and the NHS. The surgery should respond after 48
hours, but they have said to us before that current conditions mean they
may take a little longer.
Increasing support for patients
The PPG is working on how its 45 members can develop ways to
provide support to the 16,000 patients of the Botley Medical Centre in
the Botley and Kennington areas. We would also like to know of any
such groups or activities that are already being provided and to make
patients aware of the available support.
Here’s what we would like to see:
help with access to services for patients struggling with deafness,
loss of eyesight, illiteracy or lack of IT skills;
walk-in sessions on how to set up WhatsApp, Facebook and other
basic skills needed for smartphones, computers and laptops;
walking, exercise clubs, befriending support, signposts to other
social opportunities;
a practice newsletter;
health and well-being events;
support for local carers;
advice on correct processes for patients;
self-help groups and support networks, including local mother and
baby groups;
help for patients whose first language is not English;
signpost or supply of bereavement support service;
advice about healthy life styles;
free health & education events including advice and help for new
mums, plus education about child health issues;
opportunities to meet Parish Councils to hear if we can help with
anything or explain what we do.
If you are already aware of any initiatives such at these, please email
the PPG group via csugden@ocrpl.org
Practice impro v e ments
New Practice Manager The practice have now appointed a new
manager, starting in May 2022. He will be responsible for overseeing
the day-to-day processes at the practice, including Human Resource
management and training for the admin team.
Pharmacy Clerk The new Pharmacy Clerk is in contact with local
pharmacies to smooth processes and times for prescriptions. Although
still in training, she deals with patients and pharmacies’ queries around
prescriptions. She will work with the Clinical Pharmacist to process
patients’ requests so they can reach the pharmacies as soon as
possible. She also deals with all requests from care homes, and is
already having an impact. Care homes’ requests have been reviewed
thoroughly since she started, and a monthly plan has been agreed with
all parties involved. She can’t be contacted directly, as she is part of the
Pharmacist Team and reports to the Lead Pharmacist who is
responsible for the smooth running of the prescribing system. If there
are any problems please contact the practice by letter, email or phone
to let them know.
Lead Nurse A full time Lead Nurse has been appointed, starting in April.
Website impovements A GP Web-Designer has been appointed to help
upgrade the Practice website. It is hoped the upgrade will be finalized
over the next two months or so.
Further Recruitment The practice are looking to appoint another three
GPs so they can offer more services and appointments. (This will be a
challenge in view of the national shortage.) In the interim, the practice
will continue to use locum GPs and to offer LIVI.
How does the practice handle letters from consultants?
Routine letters from consultants, the hospital, or other health care
providers should be processed within five working days of receipt
although staff shortages, sickness, etc, may delay things. If follow-up is
required, the GP receives the document via email with a request to
review and action. Patients will have receiv ed a copy of the letter at the
same time as the practice. If the letter includes a prescription request,
the practice has 14 days to action it. If the need is urgent, the consultant
or hospital should prescribe.
If you have received the letter and are concerned that the practice has
not yet actioned it, you should get in touch with them either by phone
(during non-busy times after 2pm), by emailing botleymedicalcentre
@nhs.net or by writing a letter to Botley Medical Centre, Elms Road,
Botley, Oxford, OX2 9JS.
Chris Sugden, PPG Secretary
PART TIME RELIEF CARETAKER WORK
Are you interested in occasional local caretaker work? Perhaps
you work in a similar role, with flexibility in your schedule? The
Parish Council are looking for part-time relief Caretakers to
cover holiday and sick leave for the Caretaker for the Louie
Memorial Pavilion and playing fields. Full details online at
/northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/ or call the Parish Clerk on 01865 861992.
Updates from your Vale councillors
Emily Smith and Debby
Hallett are your long-serving
Vale o f White Horse Dis trict
councillors. We are available
to help residents with local
issues related to all the
council’s services. In
addition to being your local
members, we have other
council-wide roles. Debby is
Cabinet Member for
Corporate Services and
Transformation, which includes the Corporate Plan (what we aim to do
in the 2019-23 administration) and the Local Plans and Neighbourhood
Plans (how many houses and jobs we need, and where and how to
build them). Emily is Leader of the Council at Vale, so basically she is
responsible ultimately for everything! (Debby is writing here.)
Emily and I are looking for new and improved ways to stay in touch with
local residents. We already send a monthly report to the parish councils,
with news, info and project progress that we think would interest
councillors and residents. You can see all these reports, dating back to
2011, on my blog:
http://cllrdebbyhallett.com/district-
councillor-reports/ This is my
second column for the Sprout. I
welcome feedback, please let me
know what you’d like to hear about.
Emerging Joint Local Plan 2041
On 12th May Vale and South Ox-
fordshire councils launched our con-
sultation for the new Joint Local Plan
2041. It focuses on the issues facing
both Vale of White Horse and South
Oxfordshire District Councils, and
how we might tackle them. It will run
through 23 June 2022. The councils
agreed to this joint approach in
March 2021, because we share am-
bitions around housing affordability
and the climate emergency, and they
districts
are similar in many ways. Of course there will still be area-specific po-
lices where that makes sense. The plan allows us to outline ways we
can address the climate emergency and enhance our natural environ-
ment, which both councils are determined to do.
We’re really keen for lots of people to take part in creating the Local
Plan, especially those who have never so far engaged with the process,
and so we’re trialing an innovative new, digital approach: we’re using
software called Storymaps’. Through this, users can explore interactive
Local Plan content, and answer quick and easy questions about what
they think the key issues are that the emerging Joint Local Plan should
tackle. For those who want a more traditional approach, we’re also
providing the option to fill out a single survey via the Joint Local Plan
webpage. This is where you can find out all about it:
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/pla
nning-and-development/local-plan-and-planning-policies/local-plan-2041/
You can contact both of us by email. I am at Debby.Hallett
@Whitehorsedc.gov.uk and Emily at Emily.Smith@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Debby Hallett
Botley School Early Years
This summer term had a very exciting start in our Early Years
Foundation Stage, with the arrival
of 10 chickens’ eggs. The children
have been learning about the life
cycle of a hen, and were amazed to
watch the chicks hatch over three
days. We have been learning how
to care for the chicks and the
children in our Reception classes
wrote instructions. The children
spent time watching the chicks,
making observational drawings and
discussing what they were doing.
This activity was an excellent way
to use new vocabulary and a great
way to reinforce descriptive
langu a g e .
We have also been busy planning
our refurbished EYFS gardens.
After fifteen years it is time for a new, more flexible, space which will be
fun, interesting and engaging for our youngest children for many years
to come. The children have been contributing ideas about what might go
into our new garden, as well as helping us create a video for our crowd
funding page. Give online at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/botley-early-years-
playground or give cash/cheques to our office at Botley School, Elms
Road OX2 9JZ.
Laura Jones ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Botley in Bloom
Its not quite too late! Enter your garden in
the FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION
by 6th June. Email your name and address
and your chosen class to editor@thesprout.org.uk
3 Classes: Best; Best for Wildlife; Jubilee Basket or Box
Sponsored by North Hinksey Parish Council, LeoQuent and The Sprout
The great Botley
BRING AND TAKE
Organised by Sustainable Botley
Reuse, recycle and give a new life to
unwanted stuff for free! Everybody invited
Saturday July 9
th
2022
St Peter and St Paul Church Hall , Botley
Donations accepted from 10.00 to 11.30
Take away anything you want from 10.30-12.30
All items must be
:
In#a#clean,#reusable#condition!
In#a#sealed#bag#or#box#if#with!!"#$%&#'()*!&*+'+$,(-'.($*/,0!
of#a#size#you#can#carry#away#on#foot!
(If$your$item$is$too$big$to$carry,&bring&a&photo&and&your&contact&details.)!
!
We accept:! books,& DVDs,& CDs,& clothes& and& shoes,& curtains,&bedlinen,&
etc,"complete,"boxed"an d"sealed"toys"and"games,"household"items"and"
kitchenware+ (e.g.+ pots,+ pans,+ crockery,+ vases)+ gardening+ items+ (e.g.+
small% spades,% plant% po ts,% baskets)% and% bric-a-brac% (e.g.% ornaments),%
small%electrical%items.%We%also%accept%buggies%and%children’s)bikes)…)and)
help%from%volunteers!%If%you%can%lend%a%hand%on%the%day,%please%contact%
janet.e.hemingway@gmail.com!
!
We don’t accept:!sharp&objects&(e.g.&knives&and&scissors),&&hou sehol d&
paints'and"other"chemicals"(e.g."weedkiller),"video"cassettes"and"music"
cassettes,' food,' cosmetics' and' toiletries,' bicycle' and' motorcycle'
helmets,(underwear,(pillows,(duvets,(any(item(that(is(dirty(or(broken.!
This%is%a%community%event,% primarily%for%the%residents%of"Botley"!
traders'afte r '12 pm 'o n ly."
Tereza Barnard
Botley Arts is pleased to welcome Tereza Barnard who is showing her
super-realistic pictures in St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church from 7 May to
the end of June 2022.
The world is speeding up and a lot of
things are but a swipe away. However,
there are emotions that cannot be read
in a split second. With a graduate de-
gree in Psychology, Tereza Barnard (b.
1984) has learnt that hidden, but key,
features take time to be observed and
reveal themselves. Barnard uses real-
ism, narrative elements, and some-
times abstract features to allow her
viewers to slow down, observe the hid-
den layers, and enter the inner worlds
of her sitters as well as her own. In do-
ing so, she hopes they will find beauty,
inspiration, but most notably a time for
themselves to think. Barnard is a self-
taught artist and can take up to three months to finish a painting as she
extensively observes the micro expressions of her subjects.
Barnard’s work has been featured in
publications such as Book of NHS He-
roes and The Leonardo Guide. She
is a finalist in ModPortrait 2021, ARC
15th Salon and her work has been
presented to the jury at Figurativas
2021. More recently she received an
honourable mention in the Blue Re-
view Art Prize. She has exhibited in
galleries across the UK and the United
States, recently exhibiting with the
Royal Society of British Artists at Mall
Galleries
The exhibition is free, but we do ask
that you leave a comment in the
Comments Book! Church opening
hours MonFri 10–4pm, and from 12
4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Jennie Hopkins
Meet Grahame Godby
Grahame Godby, who helps run the Four Paws dog training club at
Hinksey Heights, had his first dog
prescribed to him by his doctor.
Grahame was six at the time, with
poor eyesight, and his doctor told
his mother “this child needs a dog”.
What a brilliant piece of early social
prescribing!
I asked Grahame what he did
before he started Four Paws in
2008, and he came out with the
most amazing list of jobs. He
started as a butcher whilst still in
school, and also taught judo in his
spare time because “not being able
to see well is an actual advantage
in judo”. Grahame got his black belt, and only retired from judo
teaching when he was about 40.
Meanwhile, after giving up being a butcher in the mid-70s, Grahame
worked for British Leyland for a short time, at a period when there were
lots of strikes. Having always wanted to work with fish, he moved on to
work at the Goldfish Bowl on Magdalen Road. He was the quarantine
manager there, responsible for checking and treating imported fish.
When the Goldfish Bowl closed its wholesale business, Grahame
opened up his own fish business, Aqualand, in Windmill Road in
Headington. That closed down a few years later because of the
increa se in business rates.
Grahame then went on to do a range of jobs, including installing
kitchens and bathrooms. Most recently, he has been caretaker and
health & safety manager at a school. He took partial retirement last
year after this amazing portfolio career
which brings me on to Four Paws. Grahame got his first rescue
German Shepherd Miss Ellie, named after the character from the
television show Dallas shortly after he got married. To train her, he
borrowed books, talked to people, and most importantly watched how
Dr Ian Dunbar trained dogs. At the time, Barbara Woodhouse’s
approach, which focuses on gaining dominance over the dogs by the
use of choke collars and sharp commands, was fashionable. Ian
Dunbar, instead, promoted reward -based training, where dogs are
rewarded when they do things right rather than being told off when they
do things wrong.
“Ian just amazed me,” says Grahame. “His approach is longer-lasting
and has stable results. When I went to his first seminar, I was the only
man on the four-day course. Men seemed to be good at corrective
training [the Barbara Woodhouse approach] and women at reward-
based training. I’m pleased that more men are taking up reward-based
training now, because it’s definitely the best way to train dogs”.
Since then, Grahame and his wife have owned seven dogs, of which six
have been German Shepherds. The first few he got as puppies through
a rescue centre. Then, when he bought his first pedigree dog and took
that dog to classes, Grahame found that, through his reading and
working with his own dogs, his knowledge was already extensive. He
became a dog trainer himself at the club, and then, 14 years ago,
helped to set up Four Paws with other like-minded trainers. At first it ran
in a horse manège at Weston on the Green, but in 2016 Four Paws
moved to Hinksey Heights.
Riki Therivel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PILLOW TALK
art installation and protest against femicide
at the church of St. Peter & St. Paul, West Way
with a vigil of remembrance for all women killed by men
outside the church on Saturday 25th June at 7.30pm.
Did you know that during 2021 at least 140 women were killed by men
in the UK? They ranged in age from teens to nineties and were from all
cultural backgrounds.
Violence against women is endemic in the world, and since the deaths
of sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in 2020 and Sabina Nessa
and Sarah Everard in 2021, voices of women (and men too) have risen
in protest against femicide, which is the most extreme form of gender-
based violence, and is defined as the ‘intentional murder of women
because they are women’.
In her installation, Pillow Talk, local artist Alice Brookes gives expression
to the pain and outrage experienced by families who experience
domestic violence, as well as encouraging us all to speak up for women
and children at risk in abusive relationships.
Join us to honour the memories of women who have died in this way, to
listen to invited speakers (TBC) and to share a glass of wine.
Botley’s Hedgehog Highway
Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised every May by the British
Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), who remind us once again that
the best thing we can do for hedgehog conservation is to ensure that
our gardens have permeable boundaries. A 15cm square hole in a gar-
den fence or gate can make all the difference. It ensures that hedge-
hogs can roam sufficiently far to forage for food and find mates. Insuffi-
cient roaming distances force hedgehogs into busy roads or lead to un-
sustainable inter-breeding amongst isolated populations.
Conducted annually for a decade, the most recent ‘State of Britain’s
Hedgehogsreport has noted encouraging signs that these ‘hedgehog
highways’ between gardens may be having an impact in reversing the
national decline in hedgehog numbers.
As a local BHPS member, I’m thus
once again encouraging local residents
to add to the Botley hedgehog high-
way, particularly in areas where new
fences may have recently gone up or
where solid side gates have been in-
stalled at the side of properties. As in
previous years, I also have five
Hedgehog Highway signs to give away
to the first five Sprout readers who cre-
ate a new hedgehog access point and
email a photo to rog-
er.dalrymple@spc.oxon.org.
Thank you for your efforts to support
our local hedgehog population.
Roger Dalrymple
Osney Supercharge
Botley householders may be interested to know that a group of
households and businesses on Osney Island have signed up to
generate and store their own electricity as part of a government-backed
project called Local Energy Oxfordshire: https://project-leo.co .u k /. The
project is exploring the potential of local generation to create extra
capacity on the local electricity network, cut carbon emissions, and
reduce energy bills.
In the coming decades there will be a huge shift to using electric cars,
and electric heating for homes and businesses. This will create
increased demand and stress on the electricity network. We need to find
ways to generate green electricity at community level, and to spread
use of power throughout the day, to help the network handle this new
level of demand.
Osney Island is one of six neighbourhood projects taking part in Project
LEO. The local community is already active in trying to reduce its
carbon emissions. There is the famous 50kW hydro generation scheme,
with 9kW of solar panels on the roof, owned by Osney Lock Hydro
Limited, a community benefit company. There are also solar installations
on some Osney rooftops, nearby at the community centre and on the
university estate. Several households have already switched to using
eVs, and an electric club car is being sought.
Properties taking part in Osney Supercharge are having solar PV roof
panels installed, along with batteries to store the power these generate.
The project will collect data on how much power each house generates
and how much it uses. It will work out the impact this has on reducing
demand on the network and the potential for cutting energy supply
costs. Households will either pay for the kit themselves, or Low Carbon
Hub (a Project LEO partner) will own the kit and sell the electricity it
generates back to the homeowner.
By the end of the project, we hope that
We will have a clearer picture of our electricity consumption, and
how we can use local generation and storage to manage demand.
Residents will have greater understanding of the different ways
they as individuals, and collectively, can move to zero emissions for
their homes and transport, and will be more able to influence how that
happens.
Osney Lock Hydro’s generation will be increased by automating
river flow at the weir.
The business case for adding battery storage to the local elec-
tricity network will have been assessed.
The community will have trialled different electric vehicles, in-
cluding e-bikes, and different ways of owning or accessing them.
Residents’ electric vehicles (privately owned or a car club) will
be powered by local renewable energy, or steps to achieve this will have
been identified.
The electric fleet used by the Environment Agency depot on
Swan Street will be powered using green electricity from the hydro.
Simon Collings
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P22/V0082/FUL
Land adjacent to 16 Yarnells Road.
New dwelling with amended roof
design to that previously approved
under P17/V00205/FUL.
P22/V0923/PDH
43 Montagu Rd. Single storey rear
extension. Depth 5m Height 2.95m.
P22/V1052/HH
11 Cumnor Rise Rd. Single storey
rear/side extension, replacing
existing extension.
P22/V1052/HH
51 Yarnells Hill. Extension to
existing small brick outbuilding to
rear with new entrance.
P22/V1064/HH
3 Toynbee Close. Single storey rear
extension. (P21/V3169/H H again)
P22/V1070/PDH
71 Arthray Rd. Single storey rear
extension: Depth 6m Height 3m
Height to eaves 2.9m.
P22/V1077/HH
127 Southern Bypass. Garage to
habitable room and single storey
extensions to front and rear.
Sunny Sundays on the Field
The Pop-up Café in the
Louie Memorial Pavilion
has now been going for six
years (give or take a few
lockdowns). It’s been a
great way for local people
to meet up on warm
Sunday afternoons for a
cup of tea, a piece of cake,
some uplifting music and to
give the kids a chance to
run around.
More recently, the Pavilion
Trust have invited
individ u a ls and groups to run it themselves and raise money for a cause
close to their heart. This allowed new people to take part in the
operation, and allowed the pavilion, although old and dilapidated, to
keep on doing what it does best: provide a meeting place for the local
community. When we put the call out for people to run the event this
year, we quickly found every Sunday had been taken, bar one at the
end of August. A wide range of groups will be running the Café, all
raising money for excellent causes. Here is the schedule:
12 June Support Ukrainians in Oxford
19 June Botley Boys and Girls football club
26.June Cradle (pregnanc y-loss charity)
3 July One-Eighty (young people’s mental health charity)
10 July FOBS Botley School PTA
17July Botley Bikers (food for people without homes)
24 July Nature Trail volunteers
31 July Prostate Cancer
7 August Scout World Jamboree
14 August Botley Bridges
21 August Free for booking at the moment
28 August Skatepark
4 Sept Last Café of 2022, Louie Memorial Pavilion Trust AGM
If you have any questions or would like to help please contact the
trustees at lou ie m e morialp a v ilio n @gm a il.c o m And do come along and
enjoy a Sunday afternoon with local friends in the sunshine.
Sundays, 35pm at the Louie Memorial Pavilion put it in your diaries!
Talking Therapy Can C hange your Life Here’s How!
Mental health awareness week took place last month did you know
that one in four of us is experiencing mental health difficulties at any one
time? If we want to enjoy our lives we need to pay attention to our
mental health and look after ourselves.
We’re only here for a bit, and yet one of the hardest things is for us to
live our lives to the full, seize the day and all that. Life is often
challenging, and it is all too easy to find ourselves feeling stressed, tied
to a hamster-wheel that can be relentless and overwhelming. As well
as the usual life-challenges, we are frequently faced with the
unexpected: a pandemic, bereavement, ill health, relationship
breakdown, cost of living concerns and so on. When the going gets
tough, it is useful to develop ways to help you navigate your
circumstances whatever the individual challenges.
Evidence-based talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Eye Movement
Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) can teach you tools
and strategies that are helpful when things are difficult. These talking
therapies help you to make sense of what is happening to you and see
how the way you react to things now, stems from your past experience.
Working with a therapist you can learn skills that enable you to live your
life more helpfully: letting go of past hurts and regrets as well as
learning not to think ahead and worry too much about challenges that
may or may not be around the corner.
A wide range of difficulties can be worked on, including anxiety, stress,
low mood, depression, self-criticism, low self-esteem, relationship
difficulties, perfectionism, procrastination, assertiveness, trauma,
complex grief, health anxiety and social anxiety. Individual therapy may
also include techniques from a range of approaches such as
Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
“You can’t stop the waves,” as Jon Kabat-Zinn put it, but you can learn
to surf.
Anyone and everyone can learn something to help them live their lives
in the way they want to, surfing the waves and becoming the person
they want to be. For more information on how evidence-based talking
therapy could help you, contact me on esther@cbt-oxford.co.uk or call
07774 687872. I work in the NHS and as a private clinician, trainer and
clinical supervisor. Esther McNeile Jones
Worth the Wait
After two years in the planning stage 12 Scouts and fo u r Leaders from
the 15th Oxford Scouts finally embarked on the much delayed Spring
Camp over the Early May Bank Holiday. The setting was The Burrow, a
wonderful bunkhouse with retractable roof set into the hillside at Biblins
Campsite in the Wye Valley. Arriving on Friday evening to the now
almost traditional first night tea of hot dogs, this was for some their first
night away from home, and for many an event that had been much
anticipated as Scouting returns to normality. Games in the dark, a
roaring campfire and outdoor experiences are all very much at the heart
of Scouting with the 15th, and were very much evident throughout the
camp.
The undoubted highlight was the Saturday afternoon, spent canoeing
on the River Wye. Activities such as this aren’t always accessible to
Scouts, so the opportunity to paddle up and down the River for a few
hours was fantastic. The river exploration was accompanied by canoe-
based games of tag, river netball, sprint races and some perilous
standing up (I’m sure some Scouts secretly wanted to fall in the
weather was glorious!).
As all dried off, and the
Leaders at least realized
how much they ached from
the physical recreation, map
work was the order of the
day, in preparation for
Sunday’s hike up Symonds
Yat. Thankfully the weather
was cooler on Sunday, but
all those who know the area well will appreciate just how much of an
incline it is. With typical Scout spirit everyone used their map reading,
navigational skills and camaraderie to make it up to a viewpoint that
really is worth the walk. No peregrine falcons were seen on the day, but
an ice cream or two was spotted after the walk down, to round off the
camp.
There are plenty more adventures like this planned for both the 15th
Oxford Cubs and Scouts this year, and we are always happy to
welcome more young people aged 818 to experience them with us.
For more info (or to become an adult volunteer) em ail us at
xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk or search for our website on Google.
Tom Freem an
Randoms
No Messy Church in June
The next Messy Church at St. Peter and St. Paul will be Saturday 2nd
July 46pm. There will be no Messy Church in June, as previously
advertised.
West Oxford U3A: June Talks
We meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, at Dean
Court Community Centre, Pinnocks Way, starting at 2.30pm and
finishing with tea and biscuits. Our talks this month are:
13th June: "Inside the World of a Film and TV Extra" by Peter
Hague Until a couple of years ago, Peter Hague combined the role of
professional drummer with his work in film and TV studios. In this talk
Peter will explain what happens on a typical day as far as "Extras" are
concerned, which he says gives rise to more than a few anecdotes.
We look forward to learning more!
27th June: "An Heir and a Spare" by Graham Horn Graham is a
highly experienced and qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide and tour
leader. He also finds time to research family histories, often of the
aristocracy, which provide him with material for his talks.
No talks in July and August, but we’ll be back on 12th September, with
an illustrated talk from wildlife photographer David Bailey. Our walking
group will be exploring the County, while our craft, gardening and read-
ing groups will hold sessions during June. Do get in touch if you’d like to
attend our meetings; visitors are always welcome.”
Coaching Opportunity
Botley Boys and Girls Football Club, based between the Fogwell Rd
pitch in Dean Court and Louie Memorial upper field, is on the hunt for a
new coach for one of its teams. Could this be you?!
The U11s (soon to be U12s) are a great bunch of kids and would love to
continue playing in the league. However, their current coach is standing
down and we need someone to take the reins in this voluntary position.
You'd have the support of a determined group of parents and carers,
who would welcome you with open arms and do everything to help you
settle into the role.
So, what are we looking for?
First off, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude!
Availability to train the team one evening per week and attend
matches on Sundays
A team player to work alongside the team manager
Willingness to undertake a level 1 coaching qualification (this will be
paid for by the Club and can be done while you are coaching)
Ideally, someone who appreciates a good biscuit and doesn't mind a
spot of mud!
If you think this could be you, or if you know someone who might fit the
bill, please contact the Club Secretary, Terri Matthews, on
clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com to discuss further.
Botley W.I.
Botley WI’s Centenary Extension project was opened on Saturday 14th
May by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ox-
fordshire, Lady Baker (seen here cutting
the tape). It was the completion of a long
planned improvement to the hall, which we
hope will be our legacy for our second
hundred years.
On 7th June 7:30 pm our speaker, Gillian
Walnes Perry, will tell us about the Great
Wall of China. Our group will also hold a
Race Night on 17th June. We have a new programme of activities to
look forward to for the forthcoming year.
Home Library Service
If you (or someone you know) are finding it difficult to get to the library,
the Home Library Service can help! It is completely free and delivers
books and other library materials to hundreds of people across the
county. Friendly volunteers choose items you like and visit every three
weeks to deliver and collect them.
The service is run by the County Council and is open to people who
struggle to physically visit a library. It’s also available on a short-term
basis after illness or hospitalisation, and to people with caring responsi-
bilities. It’s easy to register simply call your local library or the Home
Library Service on 01865 810259 or email homelibraryservice
@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Kennington Memory Club
Kennington Memory Club’s Day Centre for people with dementia prides
itself on the service it provides to those who attend our members.
With three staff, assisted by a band of volunteers, the sessions run very
smoothly. This is a very good staff to member ratio and ensures that the
support given to our members is the very best. Personal care can be
provided as needed and the varying individual needs of members can
be met. Activities are tailored to the interests of those present.
Sometimes a member will just want to sit and chat and not join in with
what others are doing at that time. That’s OK too, as there will always
be a member of staff or a volunteer available and happy to do just that.
At the end of the day, the members go home content and relaxed and
their carers have had the bonus of a few hours free from their
responsibilities.
If you know of anyone who would like more information about the Club’s
Day Centre, please suggest a phone call to our Organiser, Helen, on
07852 883496 or direct them to our website. Its not just for people in
Kennington, but from a much wider area, taking in Abingdon, Botley,
Cumnor, Radley, and Wootton. www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk
4th Oxford Scout Group community funday
4th Oxford Scout Group are organising a community funday on
Saturday 18th June, for all ages, from 1-5pm at Oxford Rugby Club in
North Hinksey please come and enjoy. Activities include: a 7m
climbing tower, archery from Oxford Archers, football fun from Cumnor
Minors, introductions to tennis with the Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis Club,
pony riding, bouncy castle and an obstacle course, plus lots more
activities to have a go at. Try out Oxfordshire Girl Guides' high rope
bridge, and try to build a smaller version of your own. Oxford Rugby
Club will provide food from their kitchen, open their bar and provide
touch rugby. Radio Cherwell are running the sound system. An amateur
radio station will be part of the Oxford/Bonn link 75th anniversary
festivities.
Saturdads
This Saturday session for Dads and their young children is starting
again on 11th June, 11-12 noon at Botley Bridges in Elms Road, and on
the first Saturday of the month thereafter. Just drop in there’s no need
to book. Further info from coordinator@botleybridges.org
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 67.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@g m a il.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.1511, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Brendan Byrne 792531
brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.
Contact csugden@ocrpl.org
Botley Library
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Cumnor Choral Society
Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142 or
www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 79pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/
or phone 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Lawn Tennis Club, N Hinksey
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
West Oxford Singing Circle
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Morris Dancing Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
MonFri 7.45am6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 1012.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunt eers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz: 07791 212866 or F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810
Well-Being Walks, Botley
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car
park, Arnolds Way. Ashley 07717 714477
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 103pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Baptist Hall
1 Church Way
Contact: Diane Melchert 01865 243664
botleybaptistchurch@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact Maria Brown,
Te l: 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Te l. 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 5 2 7 3
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpav ilio n@gm ail.c o m
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion
3 rd Sunday 11.30am Matins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 45.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Ya rnells Hill
Saturday 6.30pm Mass
Sunday 9.15am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am.
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm
Choir practice Thursday 2pm
Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services held at Botley School 10.3012 noon
Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498
calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk;
www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk
What’s On
June
Thur 2nd 7pm, Louie Memorial Fields, Jubilee Party, 9.45pm
Lighting the Beacon
Sat 4th 26pm, West Way Jubilee Festival
Mon 6th Entry deadline for Botley in Bloom (email
editor@thesprout.org.uk)
Thur 9th 12.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Seniors Lunch Club. Also
on 16th and 23rd
Sun 12th 35pm, LM Pavilion, first Pop-up Café in support of
Ukrainians in Oxford
Mon 13th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk
about being a Film Extra by Peter Hague
Sat 18th 15pm, Rugby Grounds, North Hinksey, 4th Oxford
Scouts Community Fun Day
Sat 25th 7.30pm, at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Pillow talk art
installation and protest against femicide
Mon 27th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: ‘An
Heir and a Spare’ by Graham Horn
July
Sat 2nd 46pm, Ss Peter and Paul Church, next Messy Church
for children
Sat 9th 10.3012.30, Ss Peter and Paul Church Hall, Great
Botley Bring & Take